Perfect introduction to philosophy’ *If you have questions the professor will respond to you on twitter* If you think you might be into philosophy give it a whirl. If you think philosophy is for pretentious nerds (you’re mostly correct) but you should also give this a whirl. It’s delightful, thought provoking, and she’s British what’s not to love?! That said, if you’re looking to use this more as a class go ahead and watch her video recordings of these same lectures (on oxfords website and youtube) take notes, and make a list of terms, cause other wise oof. Marianne goes fast, this was never meant to be a podcast to teach philosophy it is an old lecture recording Oxford was cool enough to publish.

This podcast serves as an okay introduction to philosophy, but it becomes rather bland fairly fast. A lot of what the professor speaks on begins with profound questions and quickly winds its way into sophist territory. That is, she’s good at presenting words in a manner than sounds much more complex than they really are and often only jumbles up a conversation about already confusing topics. Made me think, but I’ve gotten more from this podcast from taking the topics and discussing them with others than I do from their own discussion of topics.

I appreciate the professor’s knowledge and enthusiasm. I also appreciate the fact that she’s trying to make the course interesting and not pedantic. However, in the process she jumps around from idea to idea so much that it’s difficult to take away a coherent lesson in philosophy. The professor encourages the students to engage from an intuitive perspective, but since they have no training in philosophy, their comments are usually misguided and of no consequence for the listener. This is surely a fun course in person, but it does not work as a podcast. The worst thing about the lectures is that I CAN’T HEAR THE STUDENTS, SO THE PROFESSOR’S TALK BECOMES FRAGMENTED AND LOSES MEANING SINCE YOU ONLY HEAR HALF THE CONVERSATION. A discussion section does not work as a podcast. Since you can’t give all participants a professional microphone, only lectures make good podcasts.

Fascinating and the prof is HILARIOUS!

Because the lecturer doesn’t repeat the audience questions a great deal of the lecture is missed. Also she doesn’t describe what is being pointed to or drawn by her on the board. Probably stimulating in person but these technical issues impact the quality.

I love this podcast because it makes me sit down and really think About things I usually brush over.

Absolutely brilliant set of lectures! An invaluable resource for anyone who has any interest in improving themselves intellectually.

Boiled it all down to entertaining and consumable bits

I'm more off a left brain mathimatics person, but i have a knew found interest in philosophy and was looking for a clear, non-complicated explanation for general philosophy and that is what i got. Very happy with this prof (I wish she was mine) and her lectures. Occassionally it is hard to hear the students's questions but since the lectures are free and they are mostly just the of prof. i do not see in anyway how i can complain.

One of my University Minors was Philosophy, including Logic. I used to love the Lectures my Prof gave, and learned much from him. Yet, they **Pale** next to Prof. Talbot's Participatory "Conversations".with her Class. This is the Second of her Classes I've "Audited," and it surely won't be the last. What I've loved most about this (Undergrad-Lvl) Class, was that Talbot--just as in her Graduate-Lvl Lectures--neither "Dumbed-Down" the Subject, nor went over our Heads. Talbot was *Born* to Teach Philosophy! Highest Recommendstion.

What makes this a good introduction to philosophy is Professor Talbot's energy and ability to come up with imaginative examples to illustrate her points. However, it would help significantly if it were possible to hear what her students are saying, since much of the fun of philosophy is in the discussion, which listeners to this series will miss. Additionally, it would help if Prof. Talbot were to give a brief description of the pictures she draws or sentences she writes on what I presume is a whiteboard in the lecture room, since readers have no way of knowing what "What's written here" means.

The professor was very good and must have drank about 5 gallons of H2O during her lectures...this I know

Most excellent lecture. I could listen to her all day.

Be my professor, YOU ROCK!

Marianne is engaged in the subject and easy to listen to... charasmatic and wonderful!

Really enlightening and very well broken down for those interested in studying philiosphy for the first time. I would highly recomend this for anyone interested in learning philiosphy 101 and it's backround.